Paul Mueller Company

Wentersch Brews Specialty Beers in an Artisanal Way

Row of Wentersch brewery bottled beer being displayed at bar

Introduction

Wentersch is a Dutch brewery that was founded in 2016. The brewery is located in the Achterhoek and produces 30 to 35 different types of beer. The beers are brewed using as many ingredients from the immediate vicinity as possible and are primarily sold in the east of the Netherlands and at the German border, in the retail sector, and at various hospitality and camping establishments.

In the first year, as a small brewery, we already ran into shortages. Back then, we had five 1,000-liter fermentation tanks. With those, we could make a batch once a week. That resulted in a lead time and fermentation of five weeks. To be able to brew more beer and increase capacity, we raised money through crowdfunding. As a result, we were able to expand with three 2,000-liter fermentation tanks.

—Onno Raspe, Wentersch Brewery

The Solution

Thanks to the addition of three 20 hl fermentation tanks to the existing five 10 hl tanks, the fermentation capacity has been increased from 50 hl to 110 hl.
With this solution, we can now produce approximately 1,000 hl (100,000 liters) of beer per year instead of 400 hl, not only due to the doubling of the fermentation capacity but also due to higher efficiency.

The Journey

Fermentation is an important step in the brewing process because 70% of the flavor compounds are created during fermentation. When brewing, you try to find a good balance between temperature and pressure, as this influences the taste of the beer. The fermentation tanks are therefore very important in the process. In Mueller, we have found a partner who meets our quality standards and requirements. The success of Wentersch is due to our passion for brewing beer combined with the best brewing equipment.

The Result

Thanks to Mueller's fermentation tanks, we have increased capacity and have been able to more than double our production. Mueller is able to effectively meet our requirements for the fermentation tanks . Our brewers are satisfied with them and had them designed to their specifications. The great thing about the collaboration is the good communication between both parties. Mueller also possesses extensive technical expertise, meaning any potential problems can be easily resolved.

We are proud of the Achterhoek and therefore try to process as many raw materials as possible from the immediate vicinity. The fact that the fermentation tanks are produced in Groenlo makes the picture complete.

Project Details

  1. More than doubled annual beer production capacity while also improving efficiency
  2. Custom-designed fermentation tanks supporting precise temperature and pressure control
  3. Locally manufactured equipment aligned with Wentersch’s regional brewing philosophy